Pond-cleaner.



C. DECKER.

POND CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJQ, 1913.

anbemto'p Wi/twzowo COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH CO..WASIIINGTON. D. c.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0. DECKER.

POND CLEANER.

APPLIOATIONIILED 23.19, 1913.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2" 6 25255017 fez/fer attowmg COLUMBIA PLANOGRAP" cuqwAsnma'rou, n. c,

CLINTON DECKER, OF RAINELLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

POND-CLEANER.

noswsa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914:.

Application filed February 19, 1913. Serial No. M9505.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, CLINTON DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at ltainelle, in the county of Greenbrier and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pond-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pond cleaning and log transporting devices for wood working mills. In mills of this type where log ponds are used it has been customary to shut down the mill at predetermined times so that the pond may be cleaned of sunken logs, bark and other dirt which has accumulated therein and with the present practice it is only possible to operate the mill by having several men operating on the pond to move the floating logs toward the jack slip.

It is the object of this invention to avoid these dificultics and to provide mechanism by which the pond will be kept clean and the sunken logs properly fed to the jack slip conveyer for transportation to the mill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pond cleaning device of this character which will produce a current of water.

Further objects of this invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of parts. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the log pond which is con structed by producing an excavation of suitable depth and flooring the bottom of the excavation with planks 2 which are inclined from a central trough 3 to a point adjacent the surface of the water at the edge of the pond. The trough 3 is arranged centrally of the pond at its deepest point and extends longitudinally of the same as shown. Arranged on a transverse shaft 4 at one end of the trough is a large sprocket wheel 5. Immediately below this sprocket wheel is a similar sprocket wheel 6 and at the opposite end of the trough is a sprocket wheel 7 which is journaled upon the operating shaft 8 which may receive its power from any suitable source. Extending beneath the sprocket wheel 5, over the sprocket wheel 7 and be neath the sprocket wheel 6 is a conveyor chain 9 which extends downwardly into the pond from a sprocket wheel 10 so. as to have its upper stretch travel on tracks 11 in the bottom of the trough 3. This chain is provided with flights 11 and also with suitable log engaging spurs 12 adapted to engage the sunken logs and carry them toward the jack slip conveyor 13 which consists of a similar chain 14 extending around a sprocket wheel 15 arranged slightly below the sprocket wheel 7 so as to receive the dirt, bark and logs from the chain 9. The chain 13 travels over an inclined platform 16 which is arranged in two parts having an opening 17 between the parts to permit the dirt, bark and other foreign material cleaned from the pond to drop into cars 18 ar ranged on tracks 19 for that purpose. The lower stretch of the chain 9 travels in a flume 20 arranged below the trough 3 and extending on an incline out of the end of the pond at a point adjacent the sprocket wheel 10. This flume is open to permit the passage of the sprocket wheel 6 and passes out of the pond in the rear of a boom 21 which extends across the end of the pond so as to prevent the logs from getting out of the path of the current and getting in the slack water back of the sprocket wheel 5. It will be noticed that the lower stretch of the chain 9 in passing through the flume does not in any way affect the current in the pond as regards the progress of the logs toward the jack slip and being thus confined will carry any dirt, bark or other foreign matter dropping into the flame over the sprocket wheel 7 out of the Hume and dump the same into the cars 22 operating beneath the discharge end of the Hume on the tracks 23.

At one side of the pond there is arranged a dock 2a which is adjacent the road 25 and adapted to receive logs from the cars running on said road whereby they may be conveniently dumped into the pond and be picked up by the current and carried toward the jack slip. This dock is substantially three-quarters of the length of the pond and is so arranged that the logs may be con veniently handled.

The sprocket wheel 5 is preferably guarded by a boxing 26 and the upper stretch of the chain 9 after passing beneath the sprocket 5 is also covered by a board 27.

\Vhat is claimed is 2-- 1. In combination, a tank, a jack slip conveyer extending into the tank, and a dirt removing device operating adjacent the bottom of the tank for producing separate currents, one of which is adapted to ca "ry logs toward the jack slip conveyor and means for separating said currents to prevent conflict.

2. In combination, atank, a jack slip conveyer extending into the tank, and combined dirt removing and log moving mechanism arranged in the tank and adapted to produce opposite currents therein, one of which is adapted to feed the logs toward the jack slip conveyer and the other of which is adapted to conduct dirt in the opposite directions, and means for separating said currents.

3. In combination, a tank, a ack slip conveyer extending into the same, a trough formed in the bottom of the tank, a flume arranged beneath the trough, and a conveyer operating in the trough and fiume.

4. In combination, a tank, a jack slip con- Veyer extending thereinto, a trough formed in the bottom of the tank, a fiume arranged beneath the trough, said fiume extending out of the tank at one end, and a conveyer operating in the trough and flume.

5. In combination, a tank having a central longitudinal trough arranged in the bottom and inclined sides, a flume arranged below the trough, and a conveyer chain operating in the fiume and trough.

6. In combination, an artificiallf, constructed tank, a trough formed in the bottom of said tank, a jack slip having an aperture therein, a conveyor operating over the jack slip, a conveyer operating in the trough and adapted to deliver material to the jack slip conveyer, and a flume for the lower stretch of the last named conveyer, said flume extending out of the tank at the end opposite the jack slip.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON DECKER.

Witnesses G. A. FRANTZ, E. MGCLUNG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 9! Patents.

Washington, D. C. i 

